US4516986A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Two-phase flow splitter
Assignee: Shell USA Inc
•
Filing: 1984-03-29
•
Granted: 1985-05-14
•
Expires: 2004-03-29
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for withdrawing with a minimum pressure loss a portion of a fluid flowing in a main line wherein the fluid comprises a vapor-liquid mixture. The apparatus uses a flow restriction in the main line with the portion being withdrawn from the low pressure area of the flow restriction. The flow restriction includes means for removing liquid from the flow and combining a metered amount of the liquid with the portion of the flow that is removed from the main line.
Inventors
- 👤 John C. Jepsen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 00:54
CPC Classifications
F; F17; F17D; F17D3/00; F17D3/10; E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/16; E21B43/24; F22; F22B; F22B37/00; F22B37/02; F22B37/22; F22B37/227; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/2496; Y10T137/2559; Y10T137/2562
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
An apparatus for removing, with minimum pressure loss, a portion of a vapor-liquid fluid flowing in a main line to form an auxiliary flow having a preset vapor-liquid ratio, said apparatus comprising: a main flowline; a flow restriction disposed in said main line; baffle means for causing vapor-liquid flow to pass through the restriction; trap means associated with said flow restriction for removing a substantial portion of the liquid from the fluid flowing in the main line; a branch line for removing said portion of the fluid flow from said main flowline, said branch line being coupled to said main line in the low pressure area created by said flow restriction; and a liquid line, said liquid line being coupled to said removal means and said branch line to restore a predetermined amount of said liquid to the fluid flow in the branch line.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
144 words
An apparatus for removing, with minimum pressure loss, a portion of a vapor-liquid fluid flowing in a main line to form an auxiliary flow having a preset vapor-liquid ratio, said apparatus comprising: a main flowline; a flow restriction disposed in said main line; baffle means for causing vapor-liquid flow to pass through the restriction; trap means associated with said flow restriction for removing a substantial portion of the liquid from the fluid flowing in the main line; a branch line for removing said portion of the fluid flow from said main flowline, said branch line being coupled to said main line in the low pressure area created by said flow restriction; and a liquid line, said liquid line being coupled to said removal means and said branch line to restore a predetermined amount of said liquid to the fluid flow in the branch line.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 1 and in addition meter means disposed to measure the flow in the branch line and flow control means disposed in said liquid line to control the flow therein in response to the measured flow in the branch line.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said flow restriction comprises a flowline of reduced cross sectional area mounted in said flowline.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said trap means is formed by said baffle means that surrounds said reduced cross sectional area flowline.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said liquid line connects to said flowline on the high pressure side of said annular plate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
74 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said flow restriction comprises a short length of a tubular member mounted coaxially in said main line and said trap means includes an annular plate, the edges of said plate being connected to both said short tubular member and said main line to effectively seal the annular opening between said members and form an enclosed volume open at the upstream end to fluid flowing in the main line.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said main line and short tubular member are circular pipe members.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the short tubular member has a diameter between one-quarter and three-quarters of the diameter of the main line and an overall length of between 2 and 5 diameters.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for withdrawing, with minimum pressure loss, a portion of a vapor-liquid fluid flowing in a main line while maintaining a preset vapor-liquid ratio in the withdrawn fluid, said method comprising: restricting the flow of the fluid in the main line; removing a portion of the liquid from the fluid in the main line upstream of the restricted flow; withdrawing a portion of the fluid from the main line in the low pressure area produced by said flow restriction; and combining a preset portion of the liquid removed from the main line with the portion of the fluid withdrawn from the main line.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for withdrawing, with minimum pressure loss, a portion of a vapor-liquid fluid flowing in a main line while maintaining a preset vapor-liquid ratio in the withdrawn fluid, said method comprising: restricting the flow of the fluid in the main line; removing a portion of the liquid from the fluid in the main line upstream of the restricted flow; withdrawing a portion of the fluid from the main line in the low pressure area produced by said flow restriction; and combining a preset portion of the liquid removed from the main line with the portion of the fluid withdrawn from the main line.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the fluid is a wet stream.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the quality of the steam in the main line and the withdrawn portion are the same.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the quality of the steam in the main line and the withdrawn portion are different.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 10 wherein a major portion of water is removed from the fluid.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the restricted flow of said fluid is substantially water-free and the portion of the liquid removed from the main line that is not combined with the fluid withdrawn from the main line is recombined with the fluid in the main line.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US557109A
Cited
US2811223A
Cited
US2849079A
Cited
DE1064295B
Cited
US4140178A
Cited
US4144804A
Cited
US4261298A
Cited
SU929176A1
Cited
DD209337A3
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-05-13 | 1988-11-12 | 1989-05-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-05-13 | 1992-11-12 | 1993-05-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-05-13 | 1996-11-12 | 1997-05-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |